-‘Missing’ MPAs deny Khurrum’s claims
-Say merit ignored in awarding tickets
From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MPA and Karachi chapter chief Khurrum Sher Zaman on Monday claimed that three of their party lawmakers have gone missing ahead of the Senate elections.
“The three of them were under duress and were receiving offers from different parties,” he said while addressing a presser. “We are unable to make contact with them as their phones are switched off,” the PTI lawmaker said adding that the families of the MPAs are in distress over the situation.
He demanded of the Sindh government to find the whereabouts of the party lawmakers and blamed the Sindh government for being behind the entire episode.
Former Opposition Leader and PTI MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi said that he talked to Karim Baksh Gabol on a video call yesterday afternoon and he excused himself from attending the luncheon at Moulvi Mehmood’s residence owing to his illness. He said that Karim Gabol has had a long history of speaking against PPP and the video statement released on his behalf contradicts his stance that PPP was behind the ruining of the Sindh province.
Firdous Shamim Naqvi further said that even MQM-P has also identified the people who were trying to buy people through money ahead of the Senate polls.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI, MQM-P and GDA have fielded joint candidates for the Senate elections from the Sindh province as they eye five seats from the province.
Earlier, Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh and Pakistan People’s Party MPA Sharjeel Inam Memon traded barbs during the ongoing session of Sindh Assembly (SA).Taking the floor, Haleem Adil Sheikh welcomed the Supreme Court’s opinion on holding Senate elections on the open ballot and alleged that the opposition wants to keep the ballot secret so that they can carry on their buying and selling.
He said news of horse-trading in Sindh is being heard, if someone is selling his or her vote for money, its a shame.
The opposition leader said Khurram Sher Zaman’s statement was taken out of context.
Replying to Sheikh, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that important matters have been raised by the opposition leader and added that we all are bound to rules and regulations of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Showing a video of Haleem Adil Sheikh displaying weapons during PS-88 Malir by-polls, he asked when did ECP say to display arms during the by-polls?
Sheikh was holding G3 during the by-polls on which he was arrested by ECP orders, Memon said. The PTI leader replied he would tender his resignation if the allegation of carrying G3 in the constituency was proven right.
He accused the PPP MPA of directing the jail superintendent to keep disturbing him, however, Memon turned down the allegations and added that if he has to do something, he will do it openly.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPAs from Sindh Sardar Muhammad Khan Shar and Karim Bux Gabol on Monday denied the statement of PTI leader Khurrum Sher Zaman about the “abduction” of party lawmakers ahead of the Senate election.
In a video shared on asocial media, the PTI MPA Sardar Muhammad Khan Shar said that MPAs were not kidnapped by anyone and they are sitting at their homes.“Who will kidnap us. We MPAs are at our homes and have some reservations with the party over awarding Senate tickets,” he said while rejecting the claim of Khurrum Zaman that three MPA’s being kidnapped ahead of Senate polls.
“PTI awarded Senate tickets to candidates without consulting various party leaders from Sindh. Merit was completely ignored in awarding of Senate tickets,” he added. Shar further said that Sindh was completely ignored by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), adding that the disgruntled MPAs also raised an issue with PM Imran Khan Sindh Governor Imran Ismail about non-issuance of funds for development projects in Sindh but no one removed their concerns.
He claimed that tickets were awarded to “Senate candidates at Governor House Karachi,” adding that he will not vote for candidates issued tickets for Senate election from Sindh as they did not belong to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA and Karachi chapter chief Khurrum Sher Zaman today claimed that three of their party lawmakers have gone missing ahead of the Senate elections.
“The three of them were under duress and were receiving offers from different parties,” he said while addressing a presser. “We are unable to make contact with them as their phones are switched off,” the PTI lawmaker said adding that the families of the MPAs are in distress over the situation.
He demanded of the Sindh government to find the whereabouts of the party lawmakers and blamed the provincial authorities for being behind the entire episode.
Former Opposition Leader and PTI MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi said that he talked to Karim Baksh Gabol on a video call yesterday afternoon and he excused himself from attending the luncheon at Moulvi Mehmood’s residence owing to his illness.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI, MQM-P and GDA have fielded joint candidates for the Senate elections from the Sindh province as they eye five seats from the province.
